The System of Higher Education in Great Britain
There are 90 universities and 60 other higher educational institutions in Great Britain. Many big cities have a university and a college of higher education. There are also such higher institutions in Great Britain as polytechnics.
There are the following main types of universities in Great Britain: ancient, Redbrick and New. There is also Open University.
The first group is ancient universities: Oxford and Cambridge. They were founded in 12th and 13th centuries. They are the oldest and the most famous universities in Great Britain. They have a lot of rules and traditions. They have a collegiate system. It means that a university is a federation of colleges. Now Cambridge consists of 20 colleges and Oxford consists of 48 colleges. Each college is largely independent: it has its own staff of teachers, a separate building, its own financing and individual curricula. It organizes term exams, but university is responsible for final exams and for awarding degrees to college students. The next tradition is that some colleges are only for men and others – only for women students. There are also coeducational colleges. The third tradition is that the university tutors teach students one-to-one or in very small groups. Such lessons are called tutorials.
Most universities in Great Britain are national universities. That is UK government pays three quarters of tuition fee and a student pays only one quarter of it. If the student’s family income is low the government helps him (her) with the grant. There are also some private universities in Great Britain (for example, Westminster University). Education in such universities is very expensive.
Let’s speak about the second type of UK universities – Redbrick universities. The period of foundation of Redbrick universities is between 1850 and 1930.They have a name “Redbrick” because the material used for their construction was red brick. The most famous Redbrick University is London University. It is a federation of 44 schools and institutes. The number of its internal students is over 40 000 and it has also a great number of external students, who come to London only for examinations.
The next type is New Universities. New Universities were founded after the Second World War, as a result of Industrial Revolution. After the Second World War UK began to develop its industries very quickly. British plants and factories needed a lot of qualified specialists. That’s why a number of New Universities appeared in large industrial cities, such as Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and others.
Now a few words about Open University. It’s a very interesting type of university. It started in 1960 for people, who wanted to continue their education, but couldn’t attend classes because they worked full-time and studied only in free time. University provides its students with lecture materials and tests by e-mail, TV and radio programs. Such form of education is called distance training. Every year in October OU students take exams.
Now we shall say some words about the degrees you can get at British higher schools. After three or four years of study you can get a Bachelor’s Degree (usually BA=Bachelor of Arts or BS=Bachelor of Science). After one or two years of further study a student can get a Master’s Degree (MA or MS). If students wish to teach at university, they work for a higher degree, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Answer the questions:
1. How many universities and other higher educational institutions are there in the UK?
2. What are the main types of universities in Great Britain?
3. What universities are in the group of ancient universities in Great Britain?
4. What are the names of ancient universities in Great Britain?
5. When Oxford and Cambridge universities were founded?
6. What universities are the oldest and the most famous ones in Great Britain?
7. What kind of educational system do Oxford and Cambridge universities have?
8. How many colleges are there in Oxford and Cambridge universities?
9. Are those colleges largely independent or not?
10. What are the responsibilities of colleges and universities?
11. What traditions have some colleges? Give an example.
12. What kind of lessons are called tutorials?
13. What part of all the universities are national ones in Great Britain?
14. What part of tuition fee is paid by the UK government?
15. When does the government help the student with a grant?
16. Are there any private universities in Great Britain?
17. Is the price of education in private universities very cheap?
18. When did Redbrick universities appear?
19. Why such universities are called Redbrick ones?
20. What is the most famous Redbrick university?
21. When were New Universities founded?
22. Why did a number of New Universities appear in large industrial cities?
23. When did Open University start?
24. For what category of people Open Universities were organized?
25. What kind of educational material does Open University provide its students with?
26. What form of education is called distance training?
27. When do students of Open University take exams?
28. After what period of study can students get a Bachelor's Degree?
29. After what period of study can students get a Master's Degree?
30. What is the highest degree a student must get if he wants to teach at the university?
1. Выберите верный вариант перевода данных словосочетаний.
Образец: 1 - b.
1.высшее учебное заведение a) university,
b) higher school, c) college
2. консультация a) study, b) tutorial, c) rule
3. плата за обучение a) curricula, b) tuition fee, c) staff of teachers
4. заочное обучение a) full-time education,
b) part-time education, c) distance training
5. дальнейшее обучение a) higher degree,
b) further study, c) period of study
2. Подберите пары слов, имеющих противоположное значение, из колонок А и В.
A B
|
ancient
|
before
|
|
lecture
|
full-time study
|
|
after
|
new
|
|
distance training
|
tutorial
|
|
enter
|
graduate from
|
3. Подберите пары слов, имеющиe сходное значение, из колонок А и В.
А В
|
teacher
|
Tutorial
|
|
tuition
|
higher educational institution
|
|
higher school
|
semester
|
|
seminar
|
study
|
|
term
|
old
|
|
ancient
|
tutor
|
4. Составьте словосочетания, используя слова из колонок А и В.
А В
|
higher
|
fee
|
|
tuition
|
classes
|
|
attend
|
degree
|
|
Master’s
|
study
|
|
Doctor of
|
School
|
|
further
|
philosophy
|
5. Прочитайте текст ещё раз и скажите, соответствуют ли следующие утверждения содержанию текста. Используйте следующий образец: Yes, it is true. (Если соответствует содержанию текста). No, it is false. (Предложите правильный вариант).
1. There are not many universities in Great Britain.
2. There are no colleges in Great Britain.
3. Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest universities in Great Britain.
4. Redbrick universities were founded between 1750 and 1930.
5. London University is а Redbrick University.
6. New universities appeared before the First World War.
7. Open University offers a distance learning.
8. One can get a Bachelor’s Degree after two years of study.
9. Master’s Degree is the highest degree at universities in UK.
10. Students can get a Doctor’s Degree after seven or more years of scientific work at university.
6. Подберите к каждому вопросу в колонке А соответствующий вариант ответа из колонки В.
А В
|
1. What types of higher schools are there in Great Britain?
|
a) New Universities were founded
|
|
2. What universities were founded in large industrial cities?
|
b) The first degree is a Bachelor’s Degree.
|
|
3. What university offers only distance learning?
|
c) Doctor of Philosophy is the highest degree in British higher schools.
|
|
4. What is the first degree in British higher schools?
|
d) Open University provides people with distance learning.
|
|
5. What is Doctor of Philosophy?
|
e) There are universities, colleges of higher education and polytechnics in Great Britain.
|
7. Закончите предложения из колонки А соответствующим вариантом из колонки В.
А В
|
1.Oxford and Cambridge were founded
|
a) аncient, Redbrick, Open, New.
|
|
2. The main types of universities in Great Britain are …
|
b) a result of Industrial Revolution.
|
|
3. New universities appeared as …
|
c) Bachelor, Master and Doctor.
|
|
4. A student of British higher school can gеt a degree of a …
|
d) in 12th and 13th centuries.
|
8. Заполните таблицу:
|
Type of a university
|
Main feature(characteristic)
|
|
1. Ancient ( old) universities
|
|
|
2. Redbrick universities
|
|
|
3. New universities
|
|
|
4. Open University
|
|
9. Расположите названия частей текста в соответствии
с содержанием. Прочитайте каждую часть.
a. The degrees you can get in British universities.
b. New universities.
c. Ancient universities.
d. Higher educational institutions in Great Britain.
e. Redbrick universities.
f. Open University.
10. Составьте вопросы к каждой части текста и устно дайте на них ответы.
*************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
27.03.2011
Ознакомительные тексты для изучения материалов по теме «Высшее образование в Британии, США и России» (Higher education in Britain, The USA and Russia)
|
|
В этой подборке текстов вашему вниманию представляется информация о системе высшего образования трех государств — Великобритании, Соединенных Штатов Америки и Российской Федерации.
Еще раз обращаем ваше внимание на то, что вам рекомендуется прочитать данные тексты несколько раз: первый раз — чтобы выделить и выучить незнакомые слова, второй — чтобы ответить на вопросы, третий — пересказать.
University education in Great Britain
There arc 46 universities in Britain. But not all univesities are equal. They differ from one another in history, tradition, academic organization. Not all British universities are backed by a well-known reputation.
Oxford and Cambridge, the oldest universities are world-known for their academic excellence. The University of London has the size and breadth to rank among the UK’s top universities.
A university usually consists of colleges. The departments of the colleges are organized into faculties.
University teaching in the UK differs greatly at both undergraduate
|
|
and postgraduate levels from that in many other cotherries.
An undergraduate
|
|
progromme consists of a series of lectures, seminars, tutorials and laboratory classes which in tots account for about 15 hours per week.
Following a particular programme students take series of lecture coursts which may last one academic term or the whole year. Associated with each lecture course are seminars, tutorials laboratory" classes which illustrate tlie topics presented in the lectures.
Lectures are given to large groups of students (from 20 to 200). Seminars and tutorials are much smaller than lecture classes and in some departments can be on a one-to-one basis (one member of staff and one student).
Students prepare work in advance for seminars and tutorials. And this can take the form of researching a topic for discussion by writing essays or by solving problems. Lectures, seminars and tutorials arc all one hour in length, laboratory classes last two or three hours. Much emphasis is put’ on the private study nature of a UK- degree. Each student has a tutor whom he can consult on any matter whether academic or personal.
The academic year is split into three terms. Formal teaching takes place in the first two terms which last for twenty four weeks in total. The third term is reserved for classes and examinations and lasts for six weeks.
Universities teach in all major subject areas: arts, science, law, engineering, medicine, social sciences.
University staffs are at the foreground of knowledge in their subject. The teaching encourages students to team in the most effective way.
University degree courses extend from three to four years. After three yeas of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts or Science. He can continue to take his Master’s Degree and then the Doctor’s.
Vocabulary:
Arts — искусств
Science — наука
essay — письменная работа
tutor — наставник
staff — штат преподавателей (персонал)
academic year — учебный год
Questions:
1. How many universities are there in Great Britain?
2. What differs one university from another?
5. What does an undergraduateprogramme
|
|
coneist of?
4. How long may a lecture course last?
5. Howlong
|
|
one must study to get the Degree of Bachelo (Master, Doctor)?
University education in the United States of America
There is no Nattional University in the USA. Each state controls and supports at least one University. The National Goverment gives no direct financial aid to these sfte schools. The students do not go to the University free of charge. Everyone must pay a tuition fee. The amount various from state to state. Students’ lotal expenses throughout the year arc very high. This creates a financial hardship for fome people. Though each University offers a number of scholarships many of the students have to work to pay their expenses.
Most of the Us Universities have a central campus. Colleges of Law, Business, Medicine, Engineering, Music, and Journalism can be found on one campus. Thus a student can attend courses at various colleges.
The students do not take the same courses. During the first two years they follow a basic programme. It means that every student must select at least one course from each of the basic fields of study: English, science, modem languages, hustor or physical education.
After the first two years every student majors in one subject and minors in, another. A student can major in history and minor in sociality. In addition to these major and minor courses he can select other subjects according to his professional interest.
After completing four years of study the students receive a Bachelor Degree (either B. A. or B. S.) with an additional year of study he may receive a Maker’s
Degree and after two or three years of graduate work and writing of the dissertation he receives a Doctorate Degree. Over four years at tile end of each year students have a final written examination. They take oral exams and write a dessertation only for advanced degrees.
Education in Russia
Citizens of Russia have the right to education which is guaranteed by the Constitution and ensured by the broad development of compulsory secondary education, vocational, specialized secondary and higher education, by the development of extramural, correspondence and evening courses, by the provisions of state scholarships, grants ard previleges for students.
In Russia there is a nine-year compulsory education, but to enter a university one has to study two years more.
School starts at the age of six for Russian children. But most of them have leamt letters in kindergarten which is now part of primary school. Primary and secondary schools together comprise eleven years of study. Bveiy school has a «core curriculum» of Russian, mathematics, science, FT. A variety of elective subjects are taught at lyceums ard gymnasiums.
After finishing secondary school, lycenm or gymnasium one can go on to higher education. All applicants must take competitive examinations. Entrence examinations are held in July and August. Higher educational institutions are headed by Rectors. Prorectors are in charge of the academic and scientific work. Higher educational unstitutions train undergraduates and graduate students in one or several specializations. The faculties are headed by the Deans. There are departments within faculties. The system of higher education in Russia is going through a transitional period. The main objectives of the reform are: decentralization of the higher education system, development of the autonomy of higher educational institutions, expantion of academic freedoms of faculties and students, development of new financial mechanism. All Russian schools until recently have been state-subsidized.
In the terms of the ration of students to the total population Russia ranks among the top ten countries in the world.
The Russian educational policy is a combination of economic and social objectives. An educated person contributes more to the society and education on the otiher hand gives a person the prospect for professional advance. The citizens of Russia show a great concern for education for themselves and their children.
Institutions of highereducation
|
|
include: technical training schools, teachers training colleges, universities which offer masters and doctoral, degrees programmes. The faculties have specialized councils for conferring advanced academic degrees.
|
http://www.englishege.ru/texts/71-oznakomitelnye-teksty-dlya-izucheniya-materialov.html
| 
